Back in the day, everyone wondered what a mini PC could be used for. Technology has made it so that some of the best mini PCs can compete fairly well with well-built PCs and even laptops. Some of the best mini PCs can even do things better than computers. Let's talk a bit about history before we talk more about these mean little machines.
The past of the Mini PC
People often say that PDP-1 was the first Mini computer in the world. It was made by the Digital Equipment Corporation and came out in November 1960. It was the first small computer in the world. It could be used for a wide range of tasks and sold for about $120,000. So, at the time, it was the cheapest computer in the world.
Other computer companies, like HP, DG, and Varian Data Machines (VDM), got into the mini PC market because of the success of PDP 1 and its successors. But small form factor computers didn't become really popular until Intel released its Next Unit of Computer (NUC) in 2013.
What Exactly Is a Mini Pc?
The term "Mini PC" refers to computers that are small in size. These types of computers are in the middle range and have all the features of a desktop in a small package. They are great for people with simple needs because they don't take up much space on the desk. You can even put a Mini PC on the back of your monitor because it is so small.
It works and functions like a full computer because it has a CPU and memory. All of the instructions are carried out by the CPU. It gets the data it needs from memory, uses the ALU to do the work, and then puts the result back into memory. Let's look at all the important parts that go into making a mini PC.
Mini PC Components and What They Do
Most of its parts are the same as those in a computer, but there are a few small differences. As an example:
What is included in the package?
Processor: The processing unit. Most mini PCs use processors that are based on ARM. These are small and use little energy. But some of them have the newest Core i5 or even i7 chips from Intel. In our article about the best mini-computers for Linux, we talked about a few of them.
Memory: It just stores data. Mini PCs use SDRAM or SODIMM RAM instead of DDR RAM. It is a random access memory with 200 pins that can run on either 1.8V or 2.5V. Think of SODIMM as RAM that fits into a small space.
Storage: the act of storing data. In the past, flash memory was used to store things on mini PCs. But these computers now store information on both slower HDD and faster SDD drives. You can now get a mini-computer with as much as 2TB of storage.
Ports: to connect to other devices. Ports on a computer let you connect your mini PC to other devices like a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and so on. Top-of-the-line models have audio jacks and the latest 3.1, HDMI, DVI, or RCA ports.
Operating System: to run other apps. An operating system is the main platform on which other programs run. Even though Windows mini PCs are more common, you can also get the best mini PCs that work with Linux if you are more interested in tech.
What is missing from the package?
To cool down your computer, you need a cooling mechanism. Most mini PCs don't have a way to cool down because they are so small. If you want to use it to play games, you should add a fan to make sure the PC doesn't overheat and damage any of its parts.
Physical Interface: to link up with other devices. A mini PC doesn't come with a screen, mouse, keyboard, or any other parts. If you want all of these things, you have to add them to the package yourself. Some of them do, thankfully, have Bluetooth. So, it's easy to connect to other devices.
Real-Time Clock: to know what time it is. A real-time clock (RTC) keeps running even after you turn off your computer. It keeps going with the help of the power from the battery. But a Mini PC doesn't have a real-time Clock because it doesn't have enough room.
What kinds of Mini PCs are on the market right now?
Barebone Kits
Most of the time, barebone kits are cheaper. But they can't do that because they don't have any storage space or RAM. Most of the time, all that's in a barebones computer is the hard mini PC case, the motherboard, and a processor. Intel's NUCs, for example, are all bare-bone computers. People who like to tinker and customize their machines for different projects like to use these kinds of mini PCs.
Ready-to-Use Machines
Mini PCs that are "ready to go" are good for people who are just starting out. They can be used right away after opening the box. You don't have to put them together or juggle different parts to get them to work. These machines are more expensive than barebone kits, but they have everything a beginner might need in one chassis. Because of this, they are very useful and easy to use. A computer that is ready to go would be a Dell mini PC.
What are the pros and cons of mini-computers?
There are many reasons why someone might or might not want a mini PC. Let's look at the pros and cons of a mini PC to help you decide.
Advantages
Cost
Because mini-computers are so small, they are very cheap and good value for money. So, these small machines are great for people who don't have a lot of money.
How big or small
As the name "mini" makes clear, these computers are small and easy to carry around. Their small, light bodies are easy to move around and can be tucked away or put behind the monitor for a clean look.
Flexibility
A mini PC can be used in the same ways as a regular PC. You can look at your office documents, send and receive emails, browse the web, play games, and watch Netflix. They come with ports for things like Wifi, USB, Bluetooth, and other devices and features.
Portability
Mini-computers are easy to carry around because they are small. Unlike a computer or a laptop, it's easy to move from place to place. So, these devices are perfect for people who are always going places.
Silencing the Noise
The fan is the noisiest part of computers and laptops. But, as we've already talked about, mini-computers don't have fans to get rid of heat. So, there isn't any noise. Whether you work at home or in an office, a quiet operation makes the whole experience better.
Use of electricity
A mini computer uses less power, which is clear. In fact, it uses about 10 times less power than the old one. Because of this, less wear and tear happens to its parts. Because of this, they need less upkeep.
Disadvantages
There are no optical drives.
A mini PC has no optical drives. Even in this day and age, you still need one. With a mini PC, the only way to use a DVD is with an external optical drive.
Power is limited.
The things that these small machines can do are limited. You can't use them for tasks that require a lot of power and speed, like rendering videos, making 3D models, or editing photos.
Few GPUs are supported
They don't have much power because they don't have much GPU support. Most of them don't have a separate GPU but instead have built-in graphics. Also, they don't have a place for an external display slot.
Upgradability
They can't be made better. If you like to change your computer every few years, a mini-computer might not be the best investment for you. There aren't many ways to upgrade hardware components because there isn't much room.
Based on your needs, here are the minimum specs for a mini PC:
People often ask where to buy a mini PC. How to answer this question depends on what you want. Your needs will tell you which mini PC to buy. Let's look at the minimum needs for the most common things people want.
At home
Applications for home use can be used to work from home, learn, communicate, or do other simple tasks. Today, almost all mini PCs can do basic things like using social media, do office work, making online Zoom calls, streaming videos, etc. But it's always good to leave some room for future improvements. We suggest starting with a 4GB RAM, 120GB HDD, and an AMD Ryzen 3 or Intel Core i3 processor. As for the operating system (OS), mini PC Windows 10 or any other Windows OS will work great.
Video Gaming
You don't have to buy an expensive laptop or desktop to play video games if you don't have a lot of money. Just get a simple barebone mini PC kit and upgrade it as per your requirements. On a good graphics card, it's easy to get 30 to 40 fps. We recommend a Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 2GB to 4GB graphics card, and a 256GB hard drive. Don't forget that you'll need a bigger power supply unit (at least 500W) to keep everything running smoothly.
Programming
No, you don't really need specs for a mini PC that are good for games to run for programming. But it depends a lot on what you are working on. For example, if you're a computer science student who uses graphics a lot, you should get at least a Core i5/Ryzen 5 CPU, 8GB RAM, a 2GB graphics card, an HD display, and a 500GB SSD. But if you mostly do work that doesn't involve graphics, a core i3/ryzen 3, 4GB RAM, a 1GB graphics card, and a 256GB hard drive will be enough.
Business
For business tasks like analyzing transactions, keeping track of investments, sales, marketing, and other similar tasks, you should get at least a dual-core CPU, 4GB RAM, and 256GB HDD. You don't need a separate graphics card, but if your work involves a lot of graphics, any low-level GPU will work fine. Oh, and don't forget to get a bigger screen so you can see all the numbers more easily.
Data Monitoring and IT
Make sure you have a target device before you start monitoring data or making IoT apps. Take the case of LG's WebOS IoT as an example. They support Raspi and recommend getting at least a core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 100GB HDD, and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (64 bit) as the operating system.
One Last Thing
This is the end of what we're going to talk about. We hope you now know everything you need to know about mini PCs and can tell the difference between a laptop, desktop, and mini PC. You should also be able to answer the question of which mini PC to buy. For now, that's all. Check out some of the other articles on Imperyumm for more information. We appreciate you reading!
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